CDC's climate-ready states and cities initiative: Background and progress to date

In response to the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the health effects of climate change, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initiated a range of activities to provide greater insight and guidance to public health agencies. One of the major initiatives under way is the Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative. The primary component within the Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative is cooperative agreements with 10 State and City health departments that act as advanced practice sites. These sites are applying advanced techniques to incorporate climate projections into public health planning and response activities.

The speaker will provide an overview of the Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative and describe the initiatives latest products and activities that are building climate change capabilities within state and local health agencies.

This presentation will also highlight the Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework as the primary guidance given to state and local health agencies to assure that climate change can be adequately considered within public health planning and response activities. Applying the BRACE framework enables health agencies to forecast the most likely health impacts from climate change within their area, identify communities and systems most at risk, and apply this learning to enhance public health programs and operations as a means of health oriented climate change adaptation.